proemium

An ekphrasis could be composed in any style; it could be used as an introduction (proemium), substituted in the place of a narrative, or inserted as a pointed digression.

Obama’s Inauguration Poem: Ekphrasis, Evoking pictures, swaying emotions, preparing expositions 2008

An ekphrasis could be composed in any style; it could be used as an introduction (proemium), substituted in the place of a narrative, or inserted as a pointed digression.

2008 December 23 | NIGEL BEALE NOTA BENE BOOKS 2008

Plato set out to find the characteristics of the true art of Rhetoric, he concluded that it is based on knowledge and is obviously the first kind of persuasion — that which Gorgias did not practice, but which Plato did practice throughout his dialogues and more specifically in the Laws, where every law is preceded by a proemium or introduction, the purpose of which is to persuade the citizens of the need for it.

Dictionary of the History of Ideas G. M. A. GRUBE 1968

In the proemium to this work (VII, 1) he wrote the famous words, “it is hard to tell whether Nature has been a kindly parent to man or a cruel stepmother.”

THERIOPHILY GEORGE BOAS 1968

First, make a _proemium_ or beginnyng to your co [m] parison [.]

A booke called the Foundacion of Rhetorike because all other partes of Rhetorike are grounded thereupon, euery parte sette forthe in an Oracion vpon questions, verie profitable to bee knowen and redde Richard Rainolde

Wherefore, a common place hath no _exhordium_, or be - ginnyng, yet neuerthelesse, for the profite and exercise of the learner, you maie place soche a _proemium_, or beginnyng of the oracion, as maie be easie to induce the learner.

A booke called the Foundacion of Rhetorike because all other partes of Rhetorike are grounded thereupon, euery parte sette forthe in an Oracion vpon questions, verie profitable to bee knowen and redde Richard Rainolde

This is a long proemium to the description of his characteristics as a book-hunter -- but these can be briefly told.

The Book-Hunter A New Edition, with a Memoir of the Author John Hill Burton

In the epic of primitive Rome the claims of art took precedence over personal creed, and so they would with any true poet; and if any critic were prosaic enough to object, Vergil might have answered with Livy: Datur haec venia antiquitati ut miscendo humana divinis primordia urbium augustiora faciat, and if the inconsistency with his philosophy were stressed he could refer to Lucretius 'proemium.

Vergil Frank, Tenney, 1876-1939 1922

The same remark applies to the chapters of the Vatican Council in its two Constitutions, as appears from the concluding words of the proemium of the first Constitution and from the initial phrases of most chapters.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913

I, Q. i, a. 7 and Q. ii in the proemium and in the prologus of I-II; likewise by Fr. Suàrez in the proemium of his commentaries on the I-II of St. Thomas.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 14: Simony-Tournon 1840-1916 1913